Choosing a Name for Your Event Planning Business

So you’ve decided to start an event planning business. Congratulations! Starting any business can be a scary endeavor… but it’s also a very rewarding and exciting one!

It might not seem like it, but choosing a name for your business might be one of the most difficult parts of getting it off the ground. Today, we’re going to talk about some of the do’s and don’ts of choosing the perfect name for your event or wedding planning business.

What’s in a Name?

Well… a lot, actually. Whether you like it or not, your business name will be the first impression you give to your potential clients. You’ll want to choose a name that—at best—makes the client relate with your brand or—at worst—peaks the client’s interest enough to want to know more about it.

Developing your Brand

Before you choose a business name, you need to have established your brand values. You’ll want to pick a name that fits in with your brand image. For instance, a business that stands for classical elegance and timeless decor will be named completely differently than a business whose focus is on fun and eclectic events, or corporate parties. Once you have a general description of your brand’s core values, you’ll be better equipped to make a short list of possible names.

Making a Short List

There are countless sources from which you can draw inspiration for a business name. Once you have an idea of the message you want to convey, you can then start looking for words, phrases or names that convey that message. Consider looking into:

Proper names

(Simple!) word games

Words in other languages

Synonyms

Clichés or popular phrases

Names from books, mythology or other works of fiction

Use your imagination!

Don’t limit yourself here. Be as creative as you want and write down every contender for your business name. You’ll probably find it’ll take about 10-20 names before starting to think outside the box and come up with some real winners.

Once your first list is done, go through it and eliminate the names you don’t like so much… then order the ones you DO like from favorite to least favorite.

Rules of Naming your Business

Once you have your ordered short list (which in the end might not be very short, but that’s okay) you’ll want to run each naming possibility through the gauntlet to make sure it follows the rules of naming your business.

Make it Legal

If you end up with a business name that’s in some way illegal, game over.

At the very least, make sure the business name isn’t already taken. The last thing you want is to end up in a court battle over trademark infringement. So take the time to thoroughly check and make sure your business name doesn’t step on anyone’s toes.

Note: You’ll probably have to eliminate a lot of your contenders based solely on this step. It sucks, I know, but trust me… it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Keep It Simple

Many business owners try to be ultra-clever with their business name. Unfortunately, this most often backfires and leaves clients wondering what in the world the business name means. Let’s put it this way: if you have to explain or apologize about your name to clients, you chose poorly.

While you want your business name to convey your core values, you also want something that people will understand, or at the very least won’t question.

Make sure the name works FOR you, not AGAINST you.

Consider the Spelling

If your business name contains words that are commonly misspelled, or unusual words that have a difficult spelling, consider how that will affect your customers if they try to find you online. This is especially tricky when you get into proper names, or words from languages other than English.

Try to choose a name that people will be able to spell after hearing it once.

Keep it Short

A business name should not be a sentence. It needs to be short and snappy. Think about the top brand names out there today. Are any of them more than two words long? Maybe one out of a hundred? There’s a reason for that. Consumers have a very short attention span: they might remember a word… but they won’t bother trying to remember a phrase, especially if it’s a business name!

If you choose to shorten your business name by turning it into an acronym, make sure it’s 2-3 letters, max.

Make it Internet Friendly

By now, your list of potential business names is probably much shorter than when you just started out. Next, you’ll want to make sure that the business name can be registered online.

Ideally, your website will be “www.YourBusinessName.com”.

If you can’t get your exact name:

Say www.JamboreeEvents.com is already taken… but www.JamboreeEventsNewYork.com is available.

Also, for the purpose of this discussion, let’s assume you’ve done your research and you know for a fact that “Jamboree Events” is NOT a trademarked term, so there are no legal restrictions to your using that name.

Well, sure you can move forward and build your business website on that second, longer, address. Just consider that you’ll forever be in an online competition for visitors with that first website. You’ll have to put a lot more time and energy into your online strategy, to make sure you stand apart from the competition that has the same name.

While sometimes you’ll have to concede and register a website that isn’t your *exact* business name… just consider the side effects of doing so. If you have other top contenders on your list where you CAN register that very website… that might be a better choice.

If the .com is unavailable:

When looking into registering a website, you might find that “.com” is taken, but “.info” or “.ca” or “.au” or some other extension is available. Again, you can choose to go down this road, but make it an informed decision.

Customers will typically look for a “.com” first. If you don’t own it, some customers might inadvertently end up on someone else’s website.

Testing your Business Name

Once you’ve chosen your business name, you’ll want to run it through the ringer!

First, make sure your business name won’t be listed with other less desirable brands or products. If someone searches you on Google, the last thing you want is to be listed in the middle of a bunch of plumbing supplies, or in between news stories covering terrorist activities!

A lot of innocent businesses that were named “ISIS” decided to rebrand this past year, as you can imagine. Though you can’t predict the future, you can at least make sure you don’t walk into that type of situation due to poor research.

Next, test your business name with a small sample of potential customers. Ask them what they think of the name: does it interest them? Confuse them? Would they give the business a chance, based on that name? An impartial and honest reviewer might uncover some issues that you’ve overlooked.

Do Your Best!

Hopefully this guide will help you pick the best business name you can while avoiding some common pitfalls.

A final word of advice… at the end of the day, be sure that you choose a business name that you like!

35 responses to “Choosing a Name for Your Event Planning Business”

I think my business is too long “Event Decor Blissfully Designed by Debbie. Im looking to change my business names. I received a certification in Event Decor, however, I current pursuing a certificate in Event and Wedding Planning. I must think of a different name to include decor as well as planning. Do you have any suggestions.

I am trying to change the name of my company since I want to target events and corporate events not just weddings.
My company name is “Wedding Elegance by Nahid”
I also wanted to choose a name that would be up in the alphabet not all the way at the end

It’s so tough to come up with a name, I know! My favorite of the three is “Fab Functions by Lui”. It makes the company sound fun and modern, and using the word “functions” instead of “events” speaks to larger-type events (I could see that company working for big corporations, non-profits, etc.). If that is the vision you have for your brand, then well done!

While I do like “Styled Accordingly”, I’m not sure it’s representative of an event planning business. Might be just a little too vague, and could just as easily be a fashion styling business or event decor company.

Hi,
My business plan is to focus from small fun kiddies parties to large, elaborate weddings and I have come up with a name of Infinity Functions and am thinking of incorporating the word infinite within my mission statement and marketing area. What do you think?
I have already checked to see if the name is taken and it does not seem to be.
Thanks.

Hello I am starting a business where we will be renting a space for classes meetings, parties showers. iT will be a space for anyone who needs. a place to hold a small gathering. tHe room is already Painted RED . I was thinking of the The Red Room but I am not sure people will know what it is. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you, Vanessa

I am trying to change the name of my company since I want to target event and corporate event not just wedding.my company name is perfect event planner ENT so can you give me another name that look more better than this

I’m doing a re-branding of my evens and designs business. Previously called Sugar and Paint. It has been about yrs now. I’m thinking of something fresh chic fun and catchy as I’m expanding my business.

What would you suggest? My key words would be parties fairy creative .

A name that fits both kids’ parties and weddings will definitely take some brainstorming. “Parties” and “fairies” are good keywords for targeting kids’ parties, but they might not be as attractive to a couple looking for a wedding planner.

Try to think about the values and the style that define your brand. Keywords that really target your brand can help you create a business name that appeals to a broader audience.

Something you might want to consider before settling on Passionate Celebrations is what kinds of events you’ll plan. If you want to plan corporate events, for instance, you’ll probably want a more versatile name.

Consider the future of your business, too. Will you still like the name in a few years, or will you end up rebranding?

Your brand will be easier to maintain if it’s in line with your values and your style. The name you settle on should fit your vision for your business!

Im looking into starting my own events planning company and am so stuck on choosing a name my boyfriend is no help and im ripping my hair out. I really like memories made but dont feel it suitable for all events. any advice please x

Hi my name ois Winnette I am looking for a name for my business I am planning weddings, Showers, birthday partys and floral arrangement I want to use Lovette ‘s wedding planning and creative design’s now does that sound is it to long

That sounds like a great name! It’ll probably need to be shortened on things like business cards and signage to “Lovette’s Wedding Planning” (the “and creative designs” can still be a part of the business name on your website, social media, etc… just not one that’s used all the time).

Also just be careful with spelling – there’s no apostrophe needed in “designs”.

Thanks for your comment! If you’re looking for a business name for kids’ party events, we recommend going with something fun! You could choose a play on words or anything that will relate to what your business provides. Many kid-friendly businesses choose words such as “jamboree”, but you’ll want to research which ones are most competitive.

Try to keep it kid-friendly and easy to understand what your services are. Don’t rush naming your event business – a bit of thought and creativity will surely do the trick!

Choosing a business name can be challenging, so don’t rush it! Ultimately, it depends on your personal taste and style. It is your business, after all!
One of the most important things to consider for your event business name is making sure people know what service you provide. “Events by Charlene” is simple and elegant, and potential clients will know exactly what you can do for them up front!

If you’re looking to come up with a business name, the best place to start is deciding what type of events you’ll be managing. You want to make sure that potential clients can tell what services you offer right away. You can also use a general business name if you plan on offering multiple event planning services! Something like, “Prince Event Management” or a play on your name can make your business more personal and memorable!

Hi, please how do I check to know if the name I pick hasn’t been picked by someone else and how do I secure my brand name till I registered it under the the corporation because the name I choose means slot to me. I’ll be waiting patiently for your generous reply!

Doing some preliminary research of your potential business name on search engines and directories might help you find out if it’s already taken. When you do pick a business name, creating a trademark will help you protect the name and brand yourself! Always do your own thorough research – you need to know your business name is original and creative. 🙂

Hi Marjorie!
If you’re going to offer a wide range of services, it may be best to keep your business name general and use a term like “events” or “event planner” in your name so customers know what you do. You can list your services underneath your business name, even if as simple as “showers, parties, and more!”